oxytone

9.9

A word with the stress on the last syllable

noun
/ˈɑk.sɪˌtoʊn/

Specialized

: oxitono

In the word 'café', the stress is on the final syllable, making it an oxytone.

Examples

Greek linguistics often classifies words as oxytone if the accent is on the last syllable.
An oxytone is a word where the stress is on the last syllable.
Unlike an oxytone, a paroxytone has the stress on the second-to-last syllable.
The word oxytone is often used in linguistics.
In the word 'café', the stress is on the final syllable, making it an oxytone.
An oxytone is a word where the stress is on the last syllable.
Greek linguistics often classifies words as oxytone if the accent is on the last syllable.

Surface Forms

oxytone singular

oxytones plural

Morphology

oxytone = tone (opaque) = oxy + tone

The combining form 'oxy-' (meaning 'sharp' or 'acute') is a learned Greek form not transparent to average learners, so the specific linguistic sense 'stress on the last syllable' is not inferable from the parts.

Etymology

Oxytone comes from Greek parts oxy- meaning 'sharp' and -tone meaning 'tone' or 'sound'. Think of it as a 'sharp' sound at the end of a word, which is why an oxytone has the stress on the last syllable, as in 'café'.